Multiplane



Patented Dec. 1,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM FREDERICK GERHARDT AND ISAAC MACKLIN LADDON, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

MULTIPLANE.

Application filed May 29,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM FREDERICK GrnuIARD'r and Isaac M. LADDON,citizens of the United States residing at Dayton, in the county offlilontgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulIm-" provements in Multiplanes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to airplanes and particularly to airplanes of themultiplane -t y pe.

The object of the invention is to produce a multiplane .vhichpractically solves the problems of vision, performance, stability andcontrollability. The arrangement is such that the pilot is seated withhis eyes slightly forward of the trailing edge of the aerofoil or wingsurface nearest to him, enabling him to have a perfect vision either ina forward or rearward direction and thereby eliminating the blind angleformed by the aerofoil surfaces simply by leaning forward about teninches. Furthermore, by reason of the construction herein shown anddescribed, the machine has. a minimum span and the induced drag is quitesmall as well as the lateral movement of inertia and dampening so thatthe maneuverability and controllability are unusually high. Furthermoreby reason of the extremely small chord of the aerofoil surfaces, thestability can be regulated very exactly b i preliminary calculation.

lVith t e above and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel construction, combination and arrangement herein fully described,shown and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved multiplane.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through one of theaerofoils.

The airplane comprises essentially a time lag-e 5 of streamlineformation and of suitable length to give the requisite fore and aftstability to the machine,-the fuselage having the usual vertical rudder6 and elevator 7 and other fixed stabilizing surfaces.

The engine 8 is mounted in the nose portion of the fuselage and drives-atractor air screw 9. The pilots cockpit 10 is arranged in rear of theengine compartment as shown in Figure 2.

1923; Serial No. 642,213.

The landing gear or undercarriage comprises an axle l1 and wheels 12,each of which contains a shock absorbing unit enabling the 'wheels tohave a freedom of movement relatively to the axle to absorb all landingshocks.

13 designates a series of superimposed aerofoils of high aspect ratio.The aerofoils 13 as just shown in Figure 2 have a negative staggerformation and all of the aerofoils are connected in rigid relation toeach other by means of inner struts 14 and outer struts 15-. The struts14 are fastened securely at their lower extremities to the fuselage 5and extend upwardly through the overlying aerofoils 13. The outer struts15 also extend through and are rigidly fastened to the aerofoils andbelow the level of the fuselage, the interplane struts 15 extendinwardly and form bracing members 16 which are fastened to the ends ofthe axle 11. Forwardly inclined braces 17 and rearwardly inclined places18 also connect the axle 11 to the fuseage 5.

Each of the aerofoils 13 comprises leading and trailing tubular membersor spars 19 and 20, said spars conforming to the shapes of the leadingand trailing edges of the aerofoil. A sheathing or cover 21 of sheetmaterial such as metal, preferably duralumin or veneer incloses thetubular spars 19 and 20 as shown in Figure. 4. The covering or sheathing21 is preferably made of tubing which is shaped in any suitable mannerto the form shown.

We claim: 9

In an aircraft, a plurality of superimposed aerofoils of equaldimensions, an undercarriage embodyingv an axle and wheels, an auxiliaryaerofoil of lesser dimensions interposed between said plurality ofequally sized aerofoils and the axle, a supporting strut connected toeach end of said axle extending angular-1y outward through saidauxiliary aerofoil and thence vertically through said plurality ofaerofoils, said struts passing through all of said aerofoils midwaybetween the leading and trailing edges thereof.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

WILLIAM FREDERICK GERHARDT. ISAAC MACKLIN LADDON.

